Eat, drink and be married!

This was us last week, watching over the poor boy who started coughing in his sleep and then spotting a fever of 38 degrees. He slept the whole of the first day after being diagnosed with an inflamed throat and missed dinner, super unusual for his greedy self. Skipped his shower even and continued napping. When the doctor asked us what we fed him to get sucha inflamed throat, I was so puzzled. He was on homecooked food and his food was mainly slowcooked and baked very occasionally.


Second day, I checked his throat and discovered a carpet of ulcers. Got him diagnosed for herpangina and bam! There goes the whole week of school and child care leave to take. The crankiness peaked on day 3 when he could neither eat nor drink and every time he attempted, he would stick his fingers in and wail non stop. :(


Herpangina is a variant of HFMD and it's usually detected through mouth ulcers and a fever. No blisters are sighted.


If he could he wanted to be hugged all day long and sigh, what I would do to make you feel better. The 4 day ordeal was horrifying with the rude looking ulcers flaring up and he refused almost all his favourite food - watching him cry was no joke. And all the time he didn't want to be confined at home triggering off unreasonable tantrums and never ending teary high octane screeching episodes.


Finally, the day came where he took milk from the bottle without wincing and even asked for more.


Herpangina 0, Cyrus 1. We won this battle of herpangina. Fingers crossed.


I wish I can offer any form of advice apart from wishing for the best and offering as much liquids as possible - I was syringing him milk at some point, 5ml at a time. :( The usual icecream and jelly did not work its magic as it did for HFMD. I'd say this herpangina is a curse and I detest it way more than HFMD.

Like all eager beaver parents, we signed him up for Heguru at a grand old age of 1 year old. Here's how it went for us, there were no trials to test and it was upfront signing up of a term and wham you swim or float or drown. (OK, not so serious since it was parent accompanied).




It is no secret that there is no hard selling, they know it works and is effective hence the whole "you know it's good since you are here" attitude. So fine, without a clue how a proper lesson in Singapore is conducted, we signed up for a term.


After 10 months with them, we called it quits.




60 minutes of flashcards, songs, games




It is intense. As an adult, I could barely catch up and I expected my 1 year old to. What an irony, if anything the fidgety little one was engaged enough at the start. And what more he was able to get some of those questions right so that kept our interest high.




Teachers matter, for the kid


In a span of 10 months he had a change in teachers and friends and I saw a noticeable change. He was less engaged in class somehow and I tried enquiring about his favourite teacher's class.


So then, with this declined interest came my dwindling interest in enrolling him for yet another term.


Right brain training until 3


Sure there is a lot of theory about this, theoretically the brain absorbs the most from 0-3 and beyond that? They have classes till 12...I mean really? At that age when the golden age is over, it still benefits?


Different outlets, different management styles


Under this franchise, there are two different groups governing this and they are managed quite differently. We went to the group under Mr Kuah Eng Liang, came with a briefing session and no deposit required, neither did we have to attend a "counseling" session to dissuade us from withdrawing Cyrus from the classes. It was rather fuss free and thank god for that, I cannot handle dramatic farewells.


I'm sure we benefited somehow from these 10 months and gave the programme enough faith I feel...he can complete iroita puzzles when he feels like it, has a pretty good memory yet whether or not it can be directly attributed to Heguru remains a big question and unless you're going to sit down with your child all the time to revise and reinforce then really, it really is just another enrichment class to check off the list.


Honestly, we could revisit this a year or two later but for now, we are quite done with Heguru.

 

 Thank you for making me a Mom and until you think getting sloppy kisses from your Mom is uncool...:) Let me just enjoy these moments.

Mother's day came and went and in true fashion...it was just chaotic.

645am He headbutted off the bed and landed with my pregnancy pillow cushioning his fall and the husband literally leapt out of bed and I barely woke up.

730am The bub attempted to gouge the Hubba's eyes and yank my hair out. I finally woke up to my second mother's day.



9am For the first time in yonks we arrived on time for service, sunday school and made it in time for my cake pickup at 1045am. Oh gosh, the precision really in planning all these appointments.

11am On time for Mother's Day Brunch...hooray!

1230pm Cyrus was relatively well behaved for most part of the brunch until....the last packet of quinoa and beet snacks was empty. I'm thankful I had 75 minutes to digest lunch.

330pm Nap up and the bub was ready to burn all of his energy and mine. We played toddler bowling, sorted pasta and lego before it was time to prep to dinner!

6pm Mother's day dinner and it was definitely not complete without drama. The helper put the ice bag into the car without the cake. HURHUR.


   

So back home we went to sing songs as if it's our birthday and it's time to eat cake! He had his first taste of chiffon...and he LOVED IT.

That kinda of wrapped up my Mother's Day with three cards. Two from Cyrus and one from the Hubba, three dresses and another celebration to add to my memory bank. 

I chanced upon this really interesting toy whilst taobao surfing and got it carted out almost immediately. Then came assembly, who should do it? HAHAHA. The default has always been the Hubba and I decided to unlock the achievement.







There, finally assembled though it took me a fair bit of figuring out how.







And it entertained him for a good two days until battery ran out. I'd not forget the glee in his eyes, the little dance he did when the animals went on autopilot around the circuit.


To more achievement unlocked!

Our plans to visit the gardens for the umpteenth time was canned because of sakuras which got everyone too excited. So...we ended up at a public playground to let Cyrus burn off some energy.


And this happened, two girls politely asked if they could play with him. Of course, I agreed...and they took such good care of him, I was reminded...how children before they get tainted with the prejudices and biasedness of the world, can be so innocent.


A motherhood statement? Hardly.


I saw how they had so much fun, a 20.5 month old, 8 and 10 year old respectively under the watchful eyes of their parents...and it's that comfortable distance we shared.


Stay little...for that weebit longer, please?

One day late and...happy belated wedding anniversary to the Hubba. With a child in tow, the focus of this blog has shifted to all on the bub and sometimes I forget why this blog was even started. Four years and I absentmindedly thought it was 8. HAHA.

It has not been an easy 4 years, we struggled, fought, had our fair share of disappointments, teary episodes and then...we all emerge a little stronger.

Nobody ever said marriage was easy work, and it wasn't mean to be. It's strange almost how I have forgotten most of my own vow yet I remember part of his - to make me laugh, cry and laugh more than I cry. And well...he did live out that promise and to many more of these annoying years..!

Looking back on our wedding day highlights...I cannot help but muse...we were all skinnier, younger looking and...thought marriage was just the next chapter. :)

With the Parents Curriculum Tea Session happening at the end of the week, I started the week hoping very hard the crying bouts would be weaned by this week. Talk about expectations huh.






Day 11: Moving onto extended day?

He sensed we were going with the routine of dropping off bag in the cubbyhole, place his waterbottle in the basket and then head out for play. He started raising his hands to be carried and whining before wailing. His Chinese teacher came over to take him to breakfast table and despite the whole dramatic "MAAAMAAAA" with arms outreached and tears spewing out, he settled rather quickly.


Thank GOD for a tamchiak child.


On a separate note, we are considering shifting him to extended and full day soon - onward to more normalcy in life!








Day 12: Finally another teacher that he is familiar with


I had my reservations when I was told he loved one particular teacher and she had to devote her attention on him, no other child could be near her and the crying would ensue if she was not within eye shot.


Today I saw for myself how he took to yet another teacher from his class, phew! At least he won't hate school if the other quits or for some reason joins another class.








Day 13: Disrupted sleep and a grouchy pickle


He napped and slept poorly the day before hence we had a super duper very grouchy pickle on our hands. The slightest irritation got him tantrum-y and really, this reminded me why we put him in school in the first place. (Shift of responsibilities dealing with the cranky haha!).


He cried in the car seat, refused to be placed down in school, adamantly did not want to place his water bottle in the basket and then was clingy at breakfast table (almost dropped his French toast) and...starting wailing before the toast made it into his mouth.


I heard him yelling but nooooo turning back. In less than a minute later, the waterworks stopped and erm, he was actually having his second breakfast happily. I sense some emotional blackmail going on in the little mind of his.






Day 14: The first no-tears drop off


I was somewhat expecting that he as graduating out of his teary goodbyes especially when his water works lasted all but a minute. He was hesitant to go over to laoshi but food is always sucha a huge temptation and in no time, he was carried off and I swear I almost did a fist pump - AT LAST.




Day 15: Byebye mama!


For formality's sake, at 81 weeks all in, we did not have a fluke when he was dropped off without a tear and he managed to wave goodbye. I am glad we are making progress and at his own pace I am glad he is enjoying school.


With a tear in my eye, I heaved a sigh of relief we crossed our first milestone in school - dropping off without tears. My baby is...no longer a crybaby. These entire 15 days taught me one thing: I am definitely not ready nor prepared to revisit this entire crying business again if we ever need to change schools. Ah, intertia.


And it was how aptly the same day that I received a call from his teacher with plans to extend his half day to extended and finally full day. We discussed in length all the possibilities and how we'd go about executing it and that, I am really thankful there are such good teachers around. While I do not have any for comparison, this is what makes choosing the preschool/kindergarten/childcare so important because these important people make their first years so fundamental.


We received his first two week report and we're thrilled he is enjoying school. No rejection of the uniform or the initial resistance towards teachers changing his diaper...baby steps!

The hubba claims he was otherwise, yet the in laws sing a different tune.




Well, jokes aside...I knew we were getting ourselves into some teary and messy affair - it's juts normal toddler behavior when they cannot verbalise their unhappiness otherwise apart from really crying.




And we had loads of it.




Day 4 - The jab screwed things up for us. We were late, they went into assembly (cues panic because he's not encountered it before). Clung like a koala and cried for his dear life.


Day 5 - Damn the weekend, the dropoff was expectedly tough. Plus, no familiar favourite teacher.


Day 6 - Another group of new faces at play area for dropoff. He ran towards us and was picked up by a strange face. Cues a good 30-45 minute wailfest. The only time he settled down was when his teacher appeared.


Did we say the crying will stop, soon?


Day 7 - The heartless drop off continues. I walked off without looking back and I heard the wailing become sobs and kept my fingers and toes crossed I will not get a call.


Turns out apart from the morning fiasco, he was actually ok for the rest of the day and it was only on Day 8 did we realize it's because they offered him breakfast (TWO portions! and he already had breakfast at home) to placate him. Sigh, this boy, food is the root of all evil and good here.


FIRST taste of raisins and emo mama wish I were there to see him partake of the forbidden sweet fruit.


Day 9 and the same clinginess, refusal to be put down or left alone. He knew what was going to happen, with his faced scrunched up and one hand holding his wholemeal toast but he remembered to bawl so loudly.


By the time the car drove past the dining area 5 minutes later, he was barely sobbing and still munching his toast whilst laoshi carried him around.  WHEW.


Second week down...and when things are looking up, it's time for weekend and then the terrible bout of Monday blues.

And I speak as if he is 18.




18 months, that is. We knew from the start he needed to start some form of routine and school searching started really early for us. At some point, infant care was considered and that's how I embarked on this search for THE school.




Depending on which part of the island you stay in, starting early never hurts. In some cases, waitlists are years' long and some end up graduating without ever getting a place in the first choice childcare/kindergarten. Well fact is, kindergarten only starts at 3 years old, anything prior is play group.




We had a checklist in mind and after some hemming hawing and calculations, we signed up for his first school when he was a year old.




First day jitters




Yes me. More than C who probably had no clue what the fuss anyway. We collected his uniforms, got them tagged and when I finally packed his school bag, reality sunk in. My baby is going to school, this 2nd January onwards...every single year will be a school year.




Half day first for us, we wanted thing slower and more manageable than to already culture shock him with friends, teachers and having to take a nap in a foreign surrounding.




We took the effort to tell him more things about school a week prior, and then last minute hug Buddha leg by teaching him his Chinese name (ahhaha, sorry son, we decided to enroll you in a Chinese immersion class when we don't speak much at home).




I like the fact that the school had an orientation session for us parents, sent us communications before school started. However, I wish I was given the chance to bring him in a week earlier just to orientate but I do understand insurance and indemnities and all.




It was a 100% accompaniment on the first day where he explored his new classroom, loved the toys and food (Cheese sandwich! and Miso soup!). I would have cringed at even serving him miso soup but...school being school, close both eyes.




The first day went well except for the slight resistance to diaper changing by the teacher (I really cannot fault him here since all along it's been family who's been doing that honours, and suddenly a stranger!).




My pee break was nervewrecking because he ran after me, almost had a melt down and well was a sign of things to come.




Second day...more tears!




I discussed this with the teachers prior on my plans and we both agreed that I should transit him since we only had 3 days. He was left with the teachers for 2 hours and I'd return when lunch was over. Save for a few sudden realizations that I wasn't there, he was mostly distractible - phew!


And then the mother of all meltdowns at diaper changing again.



Thank god I wasn't there to see him cry - else I'd have cried along with him!




Third day - are we ready?




By fluke or not, he was dropped off without a tear...had so much fun he didn't want to return. Got his clothes and diaper changed without fuss and we almost felt that we could just transit to full day within the month.




Four days into it, I can only pray after the weekend we don't have that many tears to deal with come next week.




So there, our first week done and dusted.

We paid a visit to Pororo Park without an idea who Pororo was, apart from the fact it is a penguin. This would resonate better with fans but I was there just to check out what they had.





The only indoor playground to date with a train ride included in the ticket price, well one can go on it continuously and only for older kids.





Cyrus had a ball of time at the supermart, and that peanut which he insisted on bringing everywhere within the compound.





There were two slides in the area for older kids, a ball pit and sand pit which had no age limit and a toddler's area. Rather limiting, if you ask me.





The said toddler's area, as pathetic as it looked was actually a hit.





At least the toys were rather new!





Taking pictures to justify our attendance at the park!





One of us was clearly more thrilled than the other. See what I mean by he loved the corn and peanut toy?





Hooray to free rides, if he could, he'd probably go on it for eternity.







We missed the mascot show but just had to snap a photo for the album!


What I liked?


I liked how different this playground was from the rest, it was a mini theme park and even for me as an adult, I was intrigued.


What I didn't?


Well...it was an enjoyable experience but the prices are on the higher side for the space area that was for play.


What's next?


We will be back for sure and this time, I'd make sure we are well educated about Pororo!

I'm a sucker for memories, anything that helps me hold onto them a weebit longer and...since scrapbooking is not in my blood...I turned to photobooking! No sponsorships involved, just one very satisfied customer.












365 days worth of, that reduced me to quite a sobbing mess. Tears of joy actually, to finally come to terms with the fact that my baby is no longer a newborn, and the toddler he is today.












And the same day I received the photobook, he whatsapped me  a string of letters and even snapped a picture of the ceiling and sent it to me. Haha, nonsensical but how precious!

I'm actually not sure how this should begin and I'm penning this just for memory's sake...


Many many years ago when I was around 3 or 4 and in kindergarten, we were all made to write a letter to a child far away (well to me back then, anywhere out of Singapore is far away) and I remember it was a cancer-stricken child. My teacher told us to write him some well wishes and draw something for him to cheer him up. I have forgotten what I wrote and obviously have no recollection what I sent him but it stuck in my memory. That there are sick children and not everyone's childhood is happy.






I'm not sure what prompted me to respond to this snapshot shared in one of my mummy group chats and I thought - why not send a parcel on behalf of Cyrus. I mean someday I will share all the snaps with him and the stories behind them.




I hope it brings some cheer to A, a very courageous little fighter who's bestowed with so much love. Our paths may never cross but you have taught me as an adult even that courage does not come with age.




I'm not sure how his parents feel about bringing him home for his last days, it aches even typing this. It was very odd trying to buy an appropriate card and thankfully for Christmas, there are such pretty and cute cards for this occasion.






xx